Thirty years ago, Hugh Finlay suffered a stroke that left him paralyzed on his right side and unable to speak more than a few words at a time. In all but one respect, he was able to move about the condominium he had purchased in the New Horizons retirement community in Torrance, Calif.: He could not take a shower because the tub was too high for him to step over safely. So for many years Hugh grabbed his cane and walked to the local YMCA to use the showers or visited the clubhouse pool showers once or twice a week on the days his friend, Jack Rennie, would pick him up and drive him there.

Today, Hugh no longer has to leave his home just to take a shower. He has a newly universally designed bathroom, thanks to a cooperative effort of the ASID Los Angeles Chapter and the Torrance Kiwanis Foundation. Evelyn Grodan, CAPS, of Design That Works, a consultancy specializing in building modifications for seniors and people with special needs, served as project manager and accessibility consultant for the project. Their combined efforts, along with generous donations from local vendors and contractors, allowed them to remodel not just Hugh’s bathroom but the entire condo. The project employed universal design, sustainable and accessibility principles to create a space that is healthy, safe and barrier-free.

The centerpiece of the design is a fully accessible bathroom that was created by combining two smaller bathrooms into one. Doorways were widened from 28” to 36” and new doors were put in. The bathroom now has a 2x2 non-slip tiled walk-in shower with a five-foot turnaround, an anti-scald hand-held faucet and a fold-down seat; a sink with a hands-free faucet; and an energy-efficient, water-saving comfort-height toilet and a portable bidet. Grab bars were installed in the shower and toilet area, and the shower floor was sloped towards the center drain. A custom vanity was added that can accommodate a wheel chair, should one be needed in the future, and a special cover was put around the pipes to protect legs from coming in contact with the hot water pipe. For safety and ease of use, a motion sensor now operates the lighting.

"The type, nature and severity of a patient’s disability all impact how limited his or her bathing experience will be,” says Grodan. “Providing adequate bath safety also means preserving a person’s independence and dignity."

The project expanded beyond the bathroom, as more vendors and people heard about it and wanted to get involved. The kitchen cabinets were refaced and new appliances, countertops and lighting were added in the kitchen. The doors and windows were replaced with easier-to-open, lighter weight vinyl models. Donations included new furniture, built-in closets and window treatments.

Other improvements were made to create a healthier environment and enhance ease of use. All the door knobs throughout the condo were replaced with lever-style handles, and all closet hardware was changed to large pulls. The carpet was removed and replaced with a wood-look vinyl flooring that is easier to keep clean and makes for a smoother transition from room to room. The walls were given a fresh coat of low-VOC paint. New thermostats with auto control and larger number pads were installed, as were two HEPA air purifiers. All the light bulbs were changed to energy-efficient, longer-life fluorescent bulbs. To top things off, the address numbers on the outside of the building were replaced with larger ones and properly lighted.

“It’s amazing, the support we’ve gotten,” says Ellen Cantor, ASID, CID, the chairperson for the chapter’s Aging in Place program. “The positive reaction from the neighborhood has been very encouraging. We are eager to get started on our next project.”

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Thanks to the following companies and individuals that contributed to this project.